Word Origin & History

dive emerged 13c. from O.E. dufan "to dive, duck, sink" (intransitive, class II strong verb; past tense deaf, pp. dofen) and dyfan "to dip, submerge" (weak, transitive), from P.Gmc. *dubijanan. Past tense dove is a later formation, perhaps on analogy of drive/drove. Sense of "disreputable bar" is first recorded Amer.Eng. 1871, perhaps because they were usually in basements, and going into one was both a literal and figurative "diving." Related: Diver; diving.

Example Sentences for dive

"That wasn't much of a dive," his father said, swimming up to him.

"There is no one in the Bay who can dive better than I can," he answered.

Stan saw the Me's dive down to overtake and attack the Forts and Libs.

I made a dive for the cellar door, just as they got the range.

I can dive like a fish,” said Enda; “but how can I walk beneath the waters?

I wasn't going to dive into it; I would have enough to do to keep my head above the surface.

"I dive out when I get to be the size of the bottle," he murmured.

"Dive for the captain, one of you," an authoritative voice directed.

The plane teetered on the very verge of a dive beneath the surface.

"I'm not altogether sure," says Woodie, "whether it's I or not," and he made a dive to get below.